Chapter 10

CHAPTER X. THE STORY OF TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE.

MELIADUS was king of Leonois, or Lyonesse, a country famous in theannals of romance, which adjoined the kingdom of Cornwall, but has nowdisappeared from the map, having been, it is said, overwhelmed bythe ocean. Meliadus was married to Isabella, sister of Mark, king ofCornwall. A fairy fell in love with him, and drew him away byenchantment while he was engaged in hunting. His queen set out inquest of him, but was taken ill on her journey, and died, leaving aninfant son, whom, from the melancholy circumstances of his birth,she called Tristram. Gouvernail, the queen's squire, who had accompanied her, took chargeof the child, and restored him to his father, who had at lengthburst the enchantments of the fairy, and returned home. Meliadus, after seven years, married again, and the new queen, beingjealous of the influence of Tristram with his father, laid plots forhis life, which were discovered by Gouvernail, who, in consequence,fled with the boy to the court of the king of France, where Tristramwas kindly received, and grew up improving in every gallant andknightly accomplishment, adding to his skill in arms the arts of musicand of chess. In particular, he devoted himself to the chase and toall woodland sports, so that he became distinguished above all otherchevaliers of the court for his knowledge of all that relates tohunting. No wonder that Belinda, the king's daughter, fell in lovewith him; but as he did not return her passion, she, in a suddenimpulse of anger, excited her father against him, and he wasbanished the kingdom. The princess soon repented of her act, and indespair destroyed herself, having first written a most tender letterto Tristram, sending him at the same time a beautiful and sagaciousdog, of which she was very fond, desiring him to keep it as a memorialof her. Meliadus was now dead, and as his queen, Tristram'sstepmother, held the throne, Gouvernail was afraid to carry hispupil to his native country, and took him to Cornwall, to his uncleMark, who gave him a kind reception. King Mark resided at the castle of Tintadel, already mentioned inthe history of Uther and Iguerne. In this court Tristram becamedistinguished in all the exercises incumbent on a knight; nor was itlong before he had an opportunity of practically employing his valorand skill. Moraunt, a celebrated champion, brother to the queen ofIreland, arrived at the court, to demand tribute of King Mark. Theknights of Cornwall are in ill repute, in romance, for their cowardiceand they exhibited it on this occasion. King Mark could find nochampion who dared to encounter the Irish knight, till his nephewTristram, who had not yet received the honors of knighthood, craved tobe admitted to the order, offering at the same time to fight thebattle of Cornwall against the Irish champion. King Mark assented withreluctance; Tristram received the accolade, which conferred knighthoodupon him; and the place and time were assigned for the encounter. Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, thefirst and one of the most glorious of Tristram's exploits, we shallonly say that the young knight, though severely wounded, cleft thehead of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in the wound. Moraunt,half dead with his wound and the disgrace of his defeat, hastened tohide himself in his ship, sailed away with all speed for Ireland,and died soon after arriving in his own country. The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute.Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless. His friendsflew to his assistance. They dressed his wounds, which in generalhealed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and one woundwhich it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day by day. Thesurgeons could do no more. Tristram asked permission of his uncle todepart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria (England). With hisconsent he embarked, and, after tossing for many days on the sea,was driven by the winds to the coast of Ireland. He landed, full ofjoy and gratitude that he had escaped the peril of the sea; took hisrote,* and began to play. It was a summer evening, and the king ofIreland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at a window whichoverlooked the sea. The strange harper was sent for, and conveyed tothe palace, where, finding that he was in Ireland, whose champion hehad lately slain, he concealed his name, and called himselfTramtris. The queen undertook his cure, and by a medicated bathgradually restored him to health. His skill in music and in gamesoccasioned his being frequently called to court, and he becameinstructor of the Princess Isoude in minstrelsy and poetry, whoprofited so well under his care, that she soon had no equal in thekingdom, except her instructor.

* A musical instrument.

At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of theRound Table, and others, were present. On the first day a Saracenprince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all. They broughthim to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, justrecovering from his wound, was present. The fair Isoude appeared onthis occasion in all her charms. Palamedes could not behold themwithout emotion, and made no effort to conceal his love. Tristramperceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousy taught him how dearthe fair Isoude had already become to him. Next day the tournament was renewed. Tristram, still feeble from hiswound, rose during the night, took his arms, and concealed them in aforest near the place of the contest, and, after it had begun, mingledwith the combatants. He overthrew all that encountered him, inparticular Palamedes, whom he brought to the ground with a stroke ofhis lance, and then fought him hand to hand, bearing off the prizeof the tourney. But his exertions caused his wound to reopen; hebled fast, and in this sad state, yet in triumph, they bore him to thepalace. The fair Isoude devoted herself to his relief with an interestwhich grew more vivid day by day; and her skilful care soon restoredhim to health. It happened one day that a damsel of the court, entering thecloset where Tristram's arms were deposited, perceived that a partof the sword had been broken off. It occurred to her that themissing portion was like that which was left in the skull ofMoraunt, the Irish champion. She imparted her thought to the queen,who compared the fragment taken from her brother's wound with thesword of Tristram, and was satisfied that it was part of the same, andthat the weapon of Tristram was that which reft her brother's life.She laid her griefs and resentment before the king, who satisfiedhimself with his own eyes of the truth of her suspicions. Tristram wascited before the whole court, and reproached with having dared topresent himself before them after having slain their kinsman. Heacknowledged that he had fought with Moraunt to settle the claim fortribute, and said that it was by force of winds and waves alone thathe was thrown on their coast. The queen demanded vengeance for thedeath of her brother; the fair Isoude trembled and grew pale, but amurmur rose from all the assembly that the life of one so handsome andso brave should not be taken for such a cause, and generosityfinally triumphed over resentment in the mind of the king. Tristramwas dismissed in safety, but commanded to leave the kingdom withoutdelay, and never to return thither under pain of death. Tristramwent back, with restored health, to Cornwall. King Mark made his nephew give him a minute recital of hisadventures. Tristram told him all minutely; but when he came tospeak of the fair Isoude, he described her charms with a warmth andenergy such as none but a lover could display. King Mark wasfascinated with the description, and, choosing a favorable time,demanded a boon* of his nephew, who readily granted it. The kingmade him swear upon the holy reliques that he would fulfil hiscommands. Then Mark directed him to go to Ireland, and obtain forhim the fair Isoude to be queen of Cornwall.

* "Good faith was the very corner-stone of chivalry. Whenever aknight's word was pledged (it mattered not how rashly), it was to beredeemed at any price. Hence the sacred obligation of the boon grantedby a knight to his suppliant. Instances without number occur inromance, in which a knight, by rashly granting an indefinite boon, wasobliged to do or suffer something extremely to his prejudice. But itis not in romance alone that we find such singular instances ofadherence to an indefinite promise. The history of the timespresents authentic transactions equally embarrassing and absurd."-SCOTT, note of Sir Tristram.

Tristram believed it was certain death for him to return to Ireland;and how could he act as ambassador for his uncle in such a cause? Yet,bound by his oath, he hesitated not for an instant. He only took theprecaution to change his armor. He embarked for Ireland; but a tempestdrove him to the coast of England, near Camelot, where King Arthur washolding his court, attended by the knights of the Round Table, andmany others, the most illustrious in the world. Tristram kept himself unknown. He took part in many jousts; hefought many combats, in which he covered himself with glory. One dayhe saw among those recently arrived the king of Ireland, father of thefair Isoude. This prince, accused of treason against his liegesovereign, Arthur, came to Camelot to free himself of the charge.Blaanor, one of the most redoubtable warriors of the Round Table,was his accuser, and Argius, the king, had neither youthful vigornor strength to encounter him. He must therefore seek a champion tosustain his innocence. But the knights of the Round Table were notat liberty to fight against one another, unless in a quarrel oftheir own. Argius heard of the great renown of the unknown knight;he also was witness of his exploits. He sought him, and conjured himto adopt his defence, and on his oath declared that he was innocent ofthe crime of which he was accused. Tristram readily consented, andmade himself known to the king, who on his part promised to reward hisexertions, if successful, with whatever gift he might ask. Tristram fought with Blaanor, and overthrew him, and held his lifein his power. The fallen warrior called on him to use his right ofconquest, and strike the fatal blow. "God forbid," said Tristram,"that I should take the life of so brave a knight!" He raised him upand restored him to his friends. The judges of the field decidedthat the king of Ireland was acquitted of the charge against him,and they led Tristram in triumph to his tent. King Argius, full ofgratitude, conjured Tristram to accompany him to his kingdom. Theydeparted together, and arrived in Ireland; and the queen, forgettingher resentment for her brother's death, exhibited to the preserverof her husband's life nothing but gratitude and good-will. How happy a moment for Isoude, who knew that her father had promisedhis deliverer whatever boon he might ask. But the unhappy Tristramgazed on her with despair, at the thought of the cruel oath whichbound him. His magnanimous soul subdued the force of his love. Herevealed the oath which he had taken, and with trembling voicedemanded the fair Isoude for his uncle. Argius consented, and soon all was prepared for the departure ofIsoude. Brengwain, her favorite maid-of-honor, was to accompany her.On the day of departure the queen took aside this devoted attendant,and told her that she had observed that her daughter and Tristram wereattached to one another, and that to avert the bad effects of thisinclination she had procured from a powerful fairy a potent philter(love-draught), which she directed Brengwain to administer to Isoudeand to King Mark on the evening of their marriage. Isoude and Tristram embarked together. A favorable wind filled thesails and promised them a fortunate voyage. The lovers gazed uponone another, and could not repress their sighs. Love seemed to lightup all his fires on their lips, as in their hearts. The day waswarm; they suffered from thirst. Isoude first complained. Tristramdescried the bottle containing the love-draught, which Brengwain hadbeen so imprudent as to leave in sight. He took it, gave some of it tothe charming Isoude, and drank the remainder himself. The dogHoudain licked the cup. The ship arrived in Cornwall, and Isoude wasmarried to King Mark. The old monarch was delighted with his bride,and his gratitude to Tristram was unbounded. He loaded him withhonors, and made him chamberlain of his palace, thus giving him accessto the queen at all times. In the midst of the festivities of the court which followed theroyal marriage, an unknown minstrel one day presented himself, bearinga harp of peculiar construction. He excited the curiosity of King Markby refusing to play upon it till he should grant him a boon. Theking having promised to grant his request, the minstrel, who wasnone other than the Saracen knight, Sir Palamedes, the lover of thefair Isoude, sung to the harp a lay, in which he demanded Isoude asthe promised gift. King Mark could not by the laws of knighthoodwithhold the boon. The lady was mounted on her horse and led away byher triumphant lover. Tristram, it is needless to say, was absent atthe time, and did not return until their departure. When he heard whathad taken place, he seized his rote, and hastened to the shore,where Isoude and her new master had already embarked. Tristramplayed upon his rote, and the sound reached the ears of Isoude, whobecame so deeply affected that Sir Palamedes was induced to returnwith her to land, that they might see the unknown musician. Tristramwatched his opportunity, seized the lady's horse by the bridle, andplunged with her into the forest, tauntingly informing his rivalthat "what he had got by the harp he had lost by the rote."Palamedes pursued, and a combat was about to commence, the result ofwhich must have been fatal to one or other of these gallant knights;but Isoude stepped between them, and, addressing Palamedes, said, "Youtell me that you love me; you will not then deny me the request I amabout to make?" "Lady," he replied, "I will perform your bidding.""Leave, then," said she, "this contest, and repair to King Arthur'scourt, and salute Queen Guenever for me; tell her that there are inthe world but two ladies, herself and I, and two lovers, hers andmine; and come thou not in future in any place where I am."Palamedes burst into tears. "Ah, lady," said he, "I will obey you; butI beseech you that you will not forever steel your heart againstme." "Palamedes," she replied, "may I never taste of joy again if Iever quit my first love." Palamedes then went his way. The loversremained a week in concealment, after which Tristram restored Isoudeto her husband, advising him in future to reward minstrels in someother way. The king showed much gratitude to Tristram, but in the bottom of hisheart he cherished bitter jealousy of him. One day Tristram and Isoudewere alone together in her private chamber. A base and cowardly knightof the court, named Audret, spied them through a keyhole. They satat a table of chess, but were not attending to the game. Andretbrought the king, having first raised his suspicions, and placed himso as to watch their motions. The king saw enough to confirm hissuspicions, and he burst into the apartment with his sword drawn,and had nearly slain Tristram before he was put on his guard. ButTristram avoided the blow, drew his sword, and drove before him thecowardly monarch, chasing him through all the apartments of thepalace, giving him frequent blows with the flat of his sword, while hecried in vain to his knights to save him. They were not inclined, ordid not dare to interpose in his behalf.

A proof of the great popularity of the tale of Sir Tristram is thefact that the Italian poets, Boiardo and Ariosto, have founded upon itthe idea of the two enchanted fountains, which produced the oppositeeffects of love and hatred. Boiardo thus describes the fountain ofhatred:-

"Fair was that fountain, sculptured all of gold, With alabaster sculptured, rich and rare; And in its basin clear thou might'st behold The flowery marge reflected fresh and fair. Sage Merlin framed the font,- so legends bear,- When on fair Isoude doated Tristram brave, That the good errant knight, arriving there, Might quaff oblivion in the enchanted wave, And leave his luckless love, and 'scape his timeless grave.

"But ne'er the warrior's evil fate allowed His steps that fountain's charmed verge to gain, Though restless, roving on adventure proud, He traversed oft the land and oft the main."